Nova Scotia Senators James Cowan, Jane Cordy, Terry Mercer and Wilfred Moore demanded Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) respect the custom of regional representation in appointing Supreme Court Justices. “Changing the nomination process to include candidates from across the country for a Supreme Court seat which by 141 years of custom should be Atlantic … Read more
The Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs is disappointed to learn that vacancies for federally-appointed judges have continued to rise since the release of the committee’s interim report on court delays in August. “The combination of an excessive number of vacancies along with the deadlines set by the Supreme Court has created the perfect storm,” … Read more
Senator Pierrette Ringuette re-tabled a motion and proposal to reorganize the Senate into regional caucuses, move away from partisanship, and place more control of the Senate in the hand of the Senators themselves. Ringuette tabled the motion in support of a series of Senate reform recommendations made by former Senators Michael Kirby and Hugh Segal in their report … Read more
Members of the Senate Committee on Transport and Communications visited the University of Alberta’s Centre for Smart Transportation in Edmonton to learn about connected vehicles and got a firsthand look at how connected technology will drastically change how Canadians get around. The technology enables vehicles and roadside infrastructure to wirelessly communicate with each other about basic information like … Read more
The Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans reissued its report called An Ocean of Opportunities: Aquaculture in Canada. The report offers 10 recommendations to strengthen the environmental sustainability and economic viability of this industry while increasing public confidence. The Senators recommend that the federal government implement legislation to support the sustainable growth of this $1-billion industry … Read more
Pierrette Ringuette and John Wallace, Independent Senators from New Brunswick, are expressing deep concerns regarding the Government’s decisions to bypass the long held constitutional convention of regional representation on the Supreme Court of Canada by not guaranteeing an Atlantic Canada candidate to replace retiring Justice Thomas Cromwell. The Senators’ concerns were expressed in a letter delivered … Read more
The Senate of Canada has appointed Luc Presseau as the new director of human resources. Call 613-996-2796.
In a letter to the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology sent this month, Health Minister Jane Philpott (Markham-Stouffville, Ont.) and Sport and Persons with Disabilities Minister Carla Qualtrough (Delta, B.C.) commended senators for their comprehensive report on obesity in March. “Our Government agrees, in principle, with the Committee’s recommendations,” the ministers wrote. Nevertheless, the … Read more
The Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs issued an interim report calling on the federal government to immediately fill vacant judicial seats in order to reduce court delays hobbling the criminal justice system in Canada. The report, Delaying Justice is Denying Justice: An urgent need to address lengthy court delays in Canada, gives an … Read more
On July 14, Senator Doug Black issued a statement regarding his decision to sit as an Independent Senator: “I was elected by Albertans to ensure my voice and actions effectively represent the interests of our province. I believe that the best way for me to continue working towards creating a more accountable and effective Senate, … Read more
